News

Ageing water mains to be replaced in Bagenalstown to improve water quality and supply for community

Irish Water is investing in the water network in Bagenalstown to improve the security of the water supply for local residents and businesses on Royal Oak Road, Stationhouse Road and Kilree Street.

This project is expected to get underway on the week of the 16 April. The works will involve the decommissioning and replacement of old and damaged cast iron and PVC water mains that are prone to leakage and regular bursts.

This work is part of our national Leakage Reduction Programme which over the next four years will see €500 million invested to reduce the high level of leakage across the country by fixing or replacing ageing water mains. This will ensure a safe, reliable water supply which is vital for our health, our environment and our growing population and economy.

The works will involve the installation of 2.5km of new high performance polyethylene plastic water mains running from the Bagenalstown Business Park on Royal Oak road to Bagenalstown train station on Stationhouse road. It will also involve laying new water service connections from the public water main in the street/road to customers’ property boundaries and connecting it to the customers’ water supply. Where the existing service connections on the public side are lead these will be replaced as part of this improvement work. The project, which is being delivered in partnership with Coffey Northumbrian Ltd, is due to commence on 16 April and is expected to take approximately 20 weeks to complete.

Survey work for a second project in Bagenalstown is also underway. This project involves upgrades to the water network in Pairc Muire, Kilcarrig Street and Hurley’s Lane. The improvement works in these areas relate mainly to removal of back yard and shared services.

In some older properties, such as those in Pairc Muire, Kilcarrig Street and Hurley’s Lane, water connections may be installed to the back of the property and run through customer’s back gardens. These connections are prone to leaks and can cause reduced levels of service and poor water pressure. A shared service connection means that two or more properties are fed by a single water pipe. These connections pipes are often made of cast iron or lead and also prone to leaks.

Completion of these two projects will result in a vastly improved modern water distribution network for Bagenalstown and will achieve very significant water leakage savings. The works will deliver significant improvements in network performance and customer service in terms of improved water pressure and improved security and quality of the water supply to customers.

The works may involve some short-term water shut-offs and the project team will ensure that customers are given a minimum of 48 hours prior notice of any planned water shut-offs. Traffic management will be in place for the duration of the works. Local and emergency traffic will be maintained at all times.

Commenting on the works Mark O’Duffy, Regional Lead for the Leakage Reduction Programme, said “These sections of water mains in Bagenalstown have experienced pressure and quality issues and bursts over the years resulting in disruption for local residents and businesses and impacting the reliability of the water supply . Replacing the ageing water mains with a new modern pipes and transferring connections to existing new mains will provide a long term solution to ensure a safe and secure water supply is delivered to customers.”

Residents and businesses in the area of the works have been notified. If you have any questions about the project, you can Callsave 1850 278 278.